Caregiver gets 180 days for theft

A Maywood woman caring for a woman with terminal brain cancer was sentenced today to 180 days in jail for stealing about $300 from the victim's Addison home.

Marilyn Recto, 22, who pleaded guilty last year to theft, also was placed on 2 years' probation and ordered to serve 75 hours of public service. The victim has since died.

Assistant DuPage County State's Atty. Mary Cronin said the husband of the ill woman was away from the home making funeral plans and looking at cemetery plots when he came home and found a large jar of coins emptied.

During questioning by police it was discovered that Recto also had taken $240 in cash.

"This was despicable," Judge John Kinsella said. "You should look into your soul and find out what is going on."